Development of backward areas to be given priority: PM

by:APP

ISLAMABAD, Mar 9, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the development work in backward areas needs to be given priority to bring these at par with other areas of the country.The under developed regions, he added, not only require educational institutions and basic facilities, but the quality of basic needs has to be improved to produce useful citizens for the society.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while chairing a special meeting at the Prime Minister Secretariat here Tuesday afternoon to review the progress on Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) and examine the in-flow of pledges made by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP). The Prime Minister said the setting up of indigenous small industries and improvement of existing industries could help in generating employment opportunities at the local level. The proposals in this context can be given by the stakeholders as well as Ministry of Science and Technology. The Prime Minister said development at local level could bring about a change in the lives of people and help reduce the influence of extremist tendencies. The Prime Minister also stressed for acceleration of work on mega projects and in this regard mentioned early completion of Gwadar-Ratodero road and Gwadar airport. The mega projects, he added, would help bring the people of different regions closer to each other. It was observed in the meeting that capacity of the provincial governments for timely utilization of allocated funds has to be further improved. The provinces it was mentioned also needed to use the capital generated by them to accelerate the process of economic prosperity. The socio-economic change it was felt would also help attract local and foreign investment. The meeting was attended by Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Minister for Industries and Production, Babar Khan Ghauri, Minister for Ports and Shipping, Azam Khan Swati, Minister for Science and Technology, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Saleem Raza, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Saleem H. Mandviwalla Chairman Board of Investment, Salman Siddique Secretary Finance and Sohail Khan Chairman Board of Revenue.